March 14: Frequent Protests Sign of Govt.’s Inability to Tackle People’s Concerns

The March 14 General Secretariat slammed on Wednesday the government’s competency, renewing its demand for its resignation.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “The frequent protests and sit-ins are a sign of the government’s inability to tackle the people’s concerns.”

Furthermore, it accused it of conspiring to provide “political and moral cover” for killers who tried to assassinate Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea in April and opposition MP Butros Harb last week.

“The government is withholding the telecommunications data from the security forces and is simply sufficing with providing some of it to Hizbullah,” declared the March 14 forces.

“This dangerous reality forces the public to once again question the point of the continuation of this incompetent government and the national dialogue,” it stressed.

“Claims that the Lebanese are incapable of forming a new government is embarrassing and an insult to our democratic principles at a time when democracy is prevailing in the Arab world,” it noted.

This is a reflection of some sides’ belief that the power of the arms is greater than that of democracy, said the general secretariat.

Addressing the security situation in Lebanon, it demanded the deployment of the Lebanese army “on every inch of Lebanese land”, especially along the northern and eastern borders given the recent and “numerous assaults against the Lebanese people by the Syrian army”.

Moreover, the March 14 forces voiced their support to the residents of the northern region of Akkar and their demand for referring the case of Sheikhs Ahmed Abdul Wahed and Mohammed Merheb to the judiciary once again and to the judicial council.

Abdul Wahed and Merheb were killed at an army checkpoint in Akkar in May, prompting widespread anger and protests in the region.

Last week, three officers and eight soldiers linked to the case were released from custody, creating more outrage in Akkar.

The cabinet on Monday agreed to expand investigations in the case.

It also approved the deployment of the army along Lebanon’s northern border with Syria.